w.calvert ww ma rine mu seu m. com Vol. 41, No. 4 Winter 2016-17 THE STEAMBOATS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY By Jack Shaum passengers and freight were Editor’s Note: carried, began in 1813 and Jack Shaum is an accomplished steam- ended in 1962. boat historian and a veteran reporter who There were several has worked in both print and broadcast types of steamboats on the journalism. He began his lifelong love of Bay: the big, fast overnight steam-powered vessels when he rode his packet steamers between first steamboat at the age of eight. From Baltimore and Norfolk that 2002 to 2011, he was editor-in-chief of carried passengers, freight, the quarterly journal of the Steamship and mail; a large fleet of Historical Society of America, wrote a smaller vessels making number of articles for that publication, multiple stops that linked and was its Mid-Atlantic columnist from many rural areas of the 1975 to 2011. He is the author and co- region with the big city; the author of several books on Chesapeake colorful excursion steamers A portion of the interior of the Old Bay Line steamer City of Norfolk, built Bay steamboats, was the guest curator for that carried passengers to in 1911. Brass facing on the staircase and wrought iron railings were hallmarks of Bay steamer design. (Photo from the author’s collection) the museum’s recent exhibit “Vanished the many resorts that once Steamboats: The Maritime Art of C. Leslie flourished on the Bay and its Oursler,” and presented its PEM talk in rivers; and those that ran in conjunction to board another steamer for the trip on September. with trains. to Philadelphia or New York. Later, the The Bay’s first steamer—the transfer was handled by trains. The Bay’s rom their earliest days in the Chesapeake—made her first trip from second steamer—the Eagle—was the first second decade of the 19th Century Baltimore to Annapolis on June 13, 1813, Continued on page 2 F to their demise in the mid-20th and her second to Rock Hall on the Eastern Century, steamboats played a significant Shore a week later. She then operated role in linking widely disparate sections regularly from Baltimore to Frenchtown at the northern end of the Bay, where her of tidewater Maryland and Virginia. The Steamboats of the Regularly scheduled steamer service passengers transferred to stagecoaches Chesapeake Bay .............Page 1 that took them to New Castle, Delaware, on the Chesapeake Bay, in which both From the Director ............Page 2 Otters Are Instant Best Friends ..Page 6 A Passion for Paleontology .....Page 7 Sharkabet: A Sea of Sharks from A to Z .................Page 7 Activities & Events ...........Page 8 7th Annual Maritime Performance Series ...........Page 10 Volunteer Spotlight ...........Page 11 Staff Update ................Page 11 News from the CMM Society ...Page 12 CMMS Board of Directors .....Page 12 Changes in the Development Department ................Page 12 Aww…Shucks Fundraiser ......Page 13 The Museum Store ...........Page 13 Membership Update ..........Page 14 Painting by C. Leslie Oursler of the Old Bay Line sidewheel steamer Florida, from the author’s collection. 2 The Steamboats of the Chesapeake Bay (Continued from page 1) FROM THE DIRECTOR to travel between Baltimore and Norfolk, a route that would survive Sherrod Sturrock to become the very last steamboat line on the Bay. Imagine a Chesapeake Bay in the early days with no bridge, has been a tu- no paved highways, no cars or trucks, and no rail lines. That meant 2016 multuous year— two possible travel options—long overland trips by horse or carriage and I’m not even talking about over bumpy or muddy roads, or sailing vessels that were wind- the larger events going on in dependent—to transport people and goods between the rural areas the world. Here at the Calvert and the city. Marine Museum we have been swept along in the fast flowing tides of growth and change. We closed the museum for renovation in January 2014, and did not fully reopen until October 2014, when our new estuarine biology exhibit River to Bay opened to the public. It took a year, but in 2016, the museum ship was in full sail, trimmed and fit. During the past year, we experienced our highest attendance on record, with 84,800 visitors; we had the highest membership with over 3,000 members, and the highest number of new members in one year. Our volunteer family, always strong, swelled to The City of Richmond of 1913, seen in Baltimore Harbor, was one of the last two overnight steamers on Chesapeake Bay. She made her last voyage in 1962. (Photo over 420 active volunteers, which does not include those from the author’s collection) who only volunteer for concerts. Our newly renovated Museum Store broke all records for the year, exceeding Steamboats, however, provided reliable service that adhered sales in every single month for a whopping 20% increase to regular schedules to get people and freight to and from their in sales overall. And of course, it was a banner year for the destinations. That meant farmers and watermen in rural areas were Waterside Concert Series, hosting five successful concerts. able to ship their products to market without delay. The boats All this while carrying on a full schedule of educational were also a means of shipping manufactured goods such as tools, programs, cruises, public programs, lectures … well you building materials, fertilizer, and clothing from the city to the get the idea. rural areas. Passengers used the boats to shop in the big city, go At the end of April, Doug Alves retired after 25 years to medical appointments, visit with friends and relatives, or take at the helm. Change is, by definition, challenging, a little in theatre or other entertainment. The steamers, therefore, were an scary, and potentially disruptive. As has been reported in important element of the region’s economy. previous issues, we conducted a national search, but in the Continued on page 3 end found the answer right here at home, when I agreed to step up. Consequently, the transition has been relatively easy and the change well managed. As we look forward, Quarterly Newsletter of the Calvert Marine Museum there is much yet to do. A new exhibit is going up on the (A Division of Calvert County Government) mezzanine level in January. Completing the Maritime and the Gallery exhibit and Tim Scheirer’s masterpiece mural Calvert Marine Museum Society, Inc. (ISSN 0887-651X) will be ongoing into the spring—hopefully completed in Sherrod Sturrock, Director and Co-Editor time for the Maritime Festival. The second phase of the Robert Hurry, Co-Editor renovation that will create three new education spaces on The bugeye was the traditional sailing craft of the Bay, and was built in all its the second level is our highest priority. And beyond that glory at Solomons, the “Bugeye Capital of the World.” Membership dues are there are projects large and small. used to fund special museum projects, programs, and this newsletter. Address comments and membership applications to: The Calvert Marine Museum has been called the Calvert Marine Museum Society, Inc. jewel of Calvert County, but I like to think of it as the P.O. Box 97 • Solomons, MD 20688-0097 heart of the community. A place where all are welcome; 410-326-2042 • FAX 410-326-6691 • TDD 410-535-6355 Museum Store: 410-326-2750 where people of all ages can explore, discover, and learn www.calvertmarinemuseum.com about this special place that we call home. As we look to Layout by Stuller Designs the future I feel fortunate to be leading this remarkable museum. We are bursting with ideas, firm in our commitment, passionate about our work, and dedicated to our mission. Thank you for being part of the magic. WINTER 2016-17 3 The Steamboats of the Chesapeake Bay (Continued from page 2) In the early days of the 19th Century, steamers were owned by individual entrepreneurs rather than by companies. Eventually, however, steamboat companies came into being, and over the life of the steamer era, no fewer than 20 companies operated steamboats to all corners of the tidewater area. The earliest vessels were all-wooden construction and were sidewheelers. Over time, wooden hulls gave way to iron and steel hulls and propellers, but superstructures continued to be wooden for the most part. The early vessels burned pine logs for fuel and carried auxiliary sails, just in case. Later steamers burned coal and then oil. One of the most famous passenger- freight steamboat lines was one of the first and eventually became one of the oldest. This undated photo shows the steamer George Weems of the Weems Line in Baltimore Harbor during the 19th The Weems Line had its origins as far back Century. Built in 1858, she was destroyed by fire in 1871. (Photo from the author’s collection) as 1819 and was incorporated in 1827. It operated a fleet of steamers, such as the River and Occohannock Creek in Virginia, an hour. They were overnight boats with Surprise, Eagle, Patuxent, Mary Washington, Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank staterooms and dining rooms that were and Planter between Baltimore and River in Maryland, Bushwood, and Rock famous for meals featuring Chesapeake Patuxent and Rappahannock River points, Point, also in Maryland, and many more. Bay seafood. Below the passenger decks including Solomons and Fredericksburg, The boats were literally the lifeline for was the freight deck and in addition Virginia. The Weems Line was incredibly such communities. to general cargo, one could often hear durable, surviving as an independent The steamers had to be rather livestock on its way to market.